Details as of 8/16/2018: In January, it was announced by record executive Clive Davis, at his annual pre-GRAMMY party in NYC, that Jennifer Hudson had signed on to portray Aretha Franklin in the biopic based on her memoir Aretha: From These Roots. He also announced that Franklin actually handpicked Hudson to play her. The movie will center around Aretha’s journey to discover her true voice and who she wanted to be as an artist. Currently the film doesn’t have a release date and there are no plans to speed the production in the wake of Aretha’s passing

Sadly on this date, Franklin’s publicist confirmed that the legend died of advance pancreatic cancer of the neuroendocrine type. Jennifer Hudson paid tribute to the Queen of Soul and took to Instagram to remember the legendary artist. Hudson Instagrammed a video of herself listening to Franklin’s cover of The Beatles’ “Let It Be.” “I have no words, so I will let the Queen say it!” Hudson wrote. “But I will say while teaching me about your life, u taught me so much about life and schooled me in mine. I will never forget those teachings #riparethafranklin.” Sources: People, ET Online, TMZ. Photo Source: ET Online.